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What are the COVID-19 insurance requirements for Non-Immigrant OA visa holders returning to Thailand after travel?
Non-Immigrant OA VisaCOVID-19 InsuranceVisa RequirementsThailand ImmigrationTravel RestrictionsHealth InsuranceExpat AdviceInsurance Coverage
Feb 3, 2021
5 years ago
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERCan someone give me their thoughts on this. I’m an Aussie on a Non Imm OA visa. Been living here for just under five years. So I was looking at the travel restrictions I’d need to meet to return to Thailand should I decide on a one month visit back to Aussie. Apart from the Hotel quarantine, Fit to fly and othe medical requirements, I note that I need COVID insurance in the amount of US$100,000 for the duration of my stay when I return to Thailand. Well the duration of my stay in Thailand is indeterminate because I currently reside here and wouldn’t have any idea when next I’ll be leaving the country. Obviously I have the 400,000 THB in patient and the 40,000 THB out patient insurance as required when I renewed my current visa. So would I be correct in assuming that the mandatory COVID Insurance would be required from the date I return from Aussie until either my next departure from Thailand or my next visa renewal, or is there some other date that would meet the requirement? I’m not aware that the US100,000 COVID cover is required for an OA Visa renewal, just the 400,000/40,000 THB insurance. So if for example a tourist visits Thailand for say two months, has met all the entry requirements, and completed their hotel quarantine and then decide to extend their stay, would they also be required to extend their US$100,000 COVID insurance based on their revised departure date from Thailand? I’ve been unable to find anything online that states they would. Confusing.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the COVID-19 insurance requirements for holders of a Non-Immigrant OA visa who plan to return to Thailand after a visit to Australia. Participants clarify that while mandatory health insurance coverage of 400,000 THB inpatient and 40,000 THB outpatient is needed for visa renewal, a separate COVID-19 insurance policy of at least US$100,000 is required for entry into Thailand. This COVID-19 insurance should ideally cover the entire duration of stay upon returning, which can be indefinite for long-term residents. However, the consensus is that once in Thailand, there seems to be no necessity to keep renewing the COVID insurance for extensions as it is not a requirement for visa renewal. This leads to some confusion over insurance obligations for changing stay durations.
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Nigel ********
@Graeme *********
, I agree with @Stuart ********
, it seems there's no requirement to renew covid cover once you're in Thailand because it's currently not a condition of the OA visa extension. You'll need the covid cover only for your CoE. But, something off topic for you to consider. When you get back to Australia, you will need Australian Border Force approval to depart the country. Although you normally reside in Thailand, they're particularly tough at the moment. They've been rejecting people that have wives, businesses, property, etc, in Thailand. And then there's the current arrival caps. I'm sure you'll have no difficulty, but thought it worth flagging these issues.Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERGwen Coathanger yeh I’m hearing the same thing. Still things are looking up. Seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Aussie is talking about issuing a vaccine certificate, as I think most other countries will also, so that’s gotta help.
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERGwen Coathanger yep I’m aware of all that. But the core of my issue relates to the mandatory US$100,000 COVID insurance
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nigel *******
yeh Nigel I heard. But I did have a mate come back a few months ago (0 marriage visa) and he told me that because he usually spends more time per year in Thailand than Oz, they gave him permission. But I realize things do change. Not planning on going back to Oz until Jul/Aug so hopefully things will have settled down by then.Reply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Stuart *********
You are not currently required to have Covid insurance at the time of your next extension. Assuming you get a re-entry permit before you go you’ll be stamped in until your current stamp expires. Then when you go for a further extension of a year you only need the medical insurance coverage, not the specific Covid cover.
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
that makes much more sense.Reply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERAlong with my mandatory OA visa insurance, I took out COVID insurance in the amount of 800,000 THB in April last year. I think it cost me about 800 THB. And combined with my mandatory health insurance, that gives me coverage of 1.2m THB. Still not the same as US$100,000 though.
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI suppose the other thing is, the government is thinking about ending the 14 days quarantine requirement for people who’ve been inoculated. If that becomes the case, then I assume that the government considers that those people are not at risk of spreading or acquiring COVID so by definition, they shouldn’t require the COVID insurance.
Steve *******
You need the $100k covid insurance to enter the country. If you're on an OA visa you'll need 1 years insurance as that's how long you're stamped in for. You'll be ok if your current insurance already covers covid for 1 year.
Michael ********
I got covid insurance when i came in July for one year. Nobody asked to see the insurance when i did year extension.
I know people in same circumstances just buy 3 month insurance and have no problems
I know people in same circumstances just buy 3 month insurance and have no problems
Jyrki *********
Why you all are speaking about visas? 100 000 USD insurance is what you need for CoE.
Michael ********
@Steve ******
yes good pointSteve *******
@Michael *******
The OP has an OA visa. He's stamped in for a year when he enters the country so needs cover for a year even if he doesnt stay for a year.Jon *****
@Steve ******
Not exactly, my visa was stamped for a year, I am staying only 3 months, I had no problem to get a 3 month insurance because the plane ticket showed my date of return.Bobby ********
Steve Greir. OA visa is stamped in for the duration of the insurance, not necessarily for the full year.
Stuart *********
@Steve ******
actually he doesn’t have any visa at all. If he’s been here 5 years he’s on an extension of stay based off his original OA visa. Assuming he gets a re-entry permit he will get stamped back in for his original stamp date.Steve *******
@Stuart ********
OK. He said he had an OA visa.Stuart *********
@Steve ******
I read that too, but many get confused between a visa and extension of stay. Given that the OA is only good for a year (or two on a bounce) and he’s been here 5 it’s pretty certain it’s the latter. We don’t know if he travelled home for a new one but I guessed not. Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Stephen *******
insurance for the time is ASQ is important incase postive test.. i got extra month cover threw AXA in thailand
Reply to
Stephen *******
Reply
Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTERSo if I don’t have a departure date, that would mean that I’d have to continue to extend my COVID insurance in increments until I next depart the country. Sounds a bit unfair given that if I hadn’t left the country I wouldn’t need the COVID insurance.
Bobby ********
Graeme Fletcher. I don't think you'll need to extend the covid insurance when you next extend your stay, so the maximum you need insurance in country is twelve months. If you leave and re-enter of course, that resets the clock.
Bob **********
@Graeme *********
you need Covid insurance for the length of the stamp in your passport Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
please send me the link to the site where you found this information. I’ve been unable to find this information on any internet site. ThanksReply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Jyrki *********
@Graeme *********
RULES are RULES.Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jyrki ********
correct, but in Thailand they appear to be subject to varying degrees of interpretation.Reply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Steve *******
@Graeme *********
Dont leave then. You're leaving a country practically free of covid then returning from a country riddled with it. How is it unfair that you dont need insurance? John *******
@Steve ******
more current cases of Covid in Thailand than Australia ...why make false comments ?...??Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
Australia is not riddled with COVID. Bob **********
@Graeme *********
why is Perth locked down Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
dunno...bushfires maybe. Suggest you google it and let us all know Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
oh I seeSteve *******
@Graeme *********
Try telling that to Thai Immigration, maybe they'll let you off the covid insurance!Graeme **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
I’ve checked some internet sites looking for information to confirm that Australia is riddled with COVID but I can’t find any. Please send me the link to the site where you sourced that information from. ThanksReply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Bobby ********
You still need the covid insurance in addition to the
******
OA insurance. When you arrive in Thailand you are stamped in up to the date of expiry of your insurance. So if you've only got say 90 days insurance, you'll only be stamped in for 90 days. So you need to be sure when you will be leaving againReply to
Bobby ********
Reply
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